All Purpose Rant Away Thread - 3.2.1 GO!

[GeorgiaK]

HermanH - Coupons are a manufacturer discount; whereas sales, clearance and price matching are technically store discounts. In my opinion, the two are different. Also, remember stores get reimbursement by the manufacturer for the value of the coupon in addition to a processing fee.

At the end of the day, retailers can do what they want; however as consumers, we talk with our wallets.


A primary principle behind store coupon policy is not to allow double-discounts or combining one offer with another. Most of us would probably agree that this is reasonable. We see it all the time with restaurant coupons. i.e. you can't mix special sales promotions with their combo deals. Why should it be any different with grocery stores? While many stores do allow for this event, the stores which deny us this double-dip benefit are not technically in the wrong. "Clearance" is considered a special offer.

I don't like it, but also understand why stores would only allow coupons on regularly priced items. They are technically 'right', too. No double-discounts on the same item.

However, they are just being short-sighted with their aggressive enforcement. The coupons got the customer into the store and now they try to make your experience miserable. Are you going to come back? Their penny-pinching behaviour will just do the opposite. They can fool me into their store the first time, but I will not return with ANY coupon in the future. I just won't go back. They get to 'win'.

What really makes me laugh is how they won't allow coupons on clearance items. I understand that they want to recover something from their clearance garbage, but they forget that those items are on the clearance rack for a reason and arguing over a couple additional extra lost pennies just defeats the purpose. If they are so darned desperate to keep hold of their clearance items, LET THEM. They prefer to toss merchandise in the trash than recover a few cents on the dollar; as if that crap is going to be flying off the shelves the moment I leave. You can't save stupid.

The most aggressive restaurant chains actually let me scan a coupon and then give it back to me so that I can re-use it on a future visit. That's smart management. They know the coupon got me in the door. Get me back in the door without the restaurant needing to re-print/re-mail/re-purchase coupon advertising. Otherwise, they know that I will simply stay away until a new set of coupons arrive in the mail. No missed opportunities. I haven't seen that kind of sense in groceries, yet, but can always hope. [/QUOTE]

[cath007]

First rant:

I took more accurate pictures of my Dear Cat Eve.Facebook don't want to publish and edit them.He say imported pictures we will verify a kind of message like that.

I waited and waited the notification they where publied.Never I did receive one.Never published or edited. Facebook is the only problem.I searched and

report my problem,no solutions are there.So I had to sent me via message my pictures.Put them in the computer.And create an album.To just put them in my

Facebook page.That was a lot of work.The problem is not solved.The problem is: I never published recents picture since 4 years.I always putted old pictures still

in my Facebook page or bank of my pictures.It is a very annoying problem!!!

[cath007]

2 rants:

I had to accept again publicity and authorize to say no to block the publicity to be able to listen tv shows online.I was sure doing that was just authorize publicity

for the online tv shows...Of coarse it did not do that.Now I have publicity on every page like Smart Canucks and so... I redid the same process to reblock

publicity and it dont works!!!!

[cath007]

Please do a favor to yourself If you plan to buy a fridge dont ever buy the brand INSIGNIA.....Worst brand ever..!!!.

My fridge INSIGNIA is 5 years old.No problem to date before this one.Knock on wood

The light burned.To have access to the DEL LIGHT MY FATHER had to all empty the fridge of the food. We did 6 pl aces to check to replace the light.All the places

said not in stock.Very difficult pieces to find because the Brand is very cheap and not good.!!!! So now I have no light in my fridge.We see nothing!!!


The problem is not even resolved.So now the only place to find the light is AMAZON and they dont seems to have it....


So the food was not in the fridge for more than the recommanded 2 hours acceptable.So I wasted all my food.And the number of the light piece was book

marked in the book that came with the fridge.My father did not check ...grrr....so that could h ave been not happen

THat is heartbreaking for me considering the price of the food.And that I put my time and efforts to search for the deals...

[Ciel21]

@cath007 so sorry to hear how hard it is to find a store for fridge light. Which hardware stores did you try?
Home Hardware usually stocks appliance lights for ovens and probably fridges too. I know the Camco era fridge went through 1or 2 burnt lights and I had to get them somewhere. If there is a used appliance store, ask if owner sells fridge bulbs. If home hardware does not have stock in store it can order item to come during one of two weekly deliveries. Just need to know wattage of the LED light. I recommend buying two just in case you need a spare...
I recently deleted my two Amazon accounts as both tried to charge for monthly memberships even though I paused them. Guess it was not good I kept changing my wishlists so deleted them too.
https://www.manuals.ca/refrigerators/insignia
To find bulb or light info.
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/searc...ight&store=158

[Ciel21]

Found this on Best Buy
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/questio...9-c693c1114ae4

[Ciel21]

Just checked our fridge and it has 2x frosted white Noma 40w bulbs. Need to see if we have spares or will need to buy two soon.https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/noma-advanced-dimmable-a15-e26-led-fridge-light-bulb-soft-white-40w-0528044p.html?rrecName=Similar%20Items%20&rrecRefe rrer=product&rrecProductId=0528044P&rrecProductSlo t=1&rrecSchemeId=product1_rr&rrec=true

[walkonby]

This morning I persevered....hung in there....waited on the phone in the queue line with PC Optimum missing points inquiry.
Was I deterred by them saying the wait time could be about 15 minutes? no. Much better than last night when I hung up
after hearing the wait time could be over an hour?

I had first submitted about these missing points online, their email reply was ...." we're kinda busy atm, but we'll reply when we feel like it ". ( I'm paraphrasing )
Three days later I submitted another inquiry quoting the case number from the first inquiry in the text box. They sent me another email with a new case number but basically they are still too overwhelmed to look into my issue at this time. So I phoned.

It was painful speaking with the CS agent but it is not her fault or mine as her accent was really difficult to decipher. Bottom line though she was fabulous!
I can only hope to get future CS agents as thorough as her. Plus we were able to make light of our communication issues, a sense of humour goes a long way.
She deposited the missing points after clarifying the personal offer I had and the purchase.

So a rant with a happy ending!

[2shopmom]

I've called 2 x in the last week. Wait time, no less than 1 hr 45 minutes. Ok thanks.

So I hung up. Terrible customer service. Glad I'm shopping at other stores lately. The AMiles/Scene Programs have given me incentive to shop other stores.

This morning I persevered....hung in there....waited on the phone in the queue line with PC Optimum missing points inquiry.
Was I deterred by them saying the wait time could be about 15 minutes? no. Much better than last night when I hung up
after hearing the wait time could be over an hour?

I had first submitted about these missing points online, their email reply was ...." we're kinda busy atm, but we'll reply when we feel like it ". ( I'm paraphrasing )
Three days later I submitted another inquiry quoting the case number from the first inquiry in the text box. They sent me another email with a new case number but basically they are still too overwhelmed to look into my issue at this time. So I phoned.

It was painful speaking with the CS agent but it is not her fault or mine as her accent was really difficult to decipher. Bottom line though she was fabulous!
I can only hope to get future CS agents as thorough as her. Plus we were able to make light of our communication issues, a sense of humour goes a long way.
She deposited the missing points after clarifying the personal offer I had and the purchase.

So a rant with a happy ending!

[bhlombardy]

PC Optimum needs to get their sh#t together.

First story:

Every time there's a special offer at SDM (eg on PlayStation cards) I wind up waiting 4+ weeks, and then have to submit a claim, wait another week or two, and then, FINALLY get my points. And I know it was from the missing points claim, because the way they are awarded in the transactions says as much. -- Like clockwork, every single time. It's only on these rare special offers. Anytime I'm collecting regular points, no problem, but these special offers I have to wait and fight for these points. And I'm not the only one. Two of my other friends have the same issues. Oddly enough, I don't have this problem at Superstore. Just at SDM... and it doesn't matter which SDM I shop. Always the same issue. God forbid I should make the same transaction twice (when it's permitted) then you're on the phone with them fighting harder for the second one because it's a completely different transaction.

Second story:

One of those same friends mentioned above has had his account locked since the first week of September (a full month now) due to "suspicious activity" on his account (so a PCO call center agent tells him). After jumping through the hoops of questions (like he's playing Who Wants to be A Millionaire), he verified absolutely every facet to confirm his identity.. so they know it's him. He tells them, flat out... "That transaction was me. I've confirmed it. You can go ahead and unlock the account now." (paraphrased, obviously, I wasnt there.)

They said it had to go to the security team to get unlocked. That was a month ago. He's called twice since then and no dice. Just being told it will be escalated to the security team.

The guy is sitting on over 250,000 points ($250) that he can't use. What's worse, he was one of the individuals given the offer last week for 2x redemption. He could (and would) have spent that $500+ in store, but because his account is locked out... he couldn't use it. He spoke (graciously) to the store manager, who is equally pissed off because that's money in sales that the store didn't get.

He can earn points, just fine, but he can't redeem them. And the agents can't do squat. Not their fault, it's the way the whole cockamamie program is set up.

Scene+ isn't great, but I have to give them credit that it actually works as advertised. AirMiles has their occasional hiccup but quickly resolved. But PC Optimum is by far the most unpredictable and problematic loyalty program I've seen.

[flemeth]

PC Optimum needs to get their sh#t together.

First story:

Every time there's a special offer at SDM (eg on PlayStation cards) I wind up waiting 4+ weeks, and then have to submit a claim, wait another week or two, and then, FINALLY get my points. And I know it was from the missing points claim, because the way they are awarded in the transactions says as much. -- Like clockwork, every single time. It's only on these rare special offers. Anytime I'm collecting regular points, no problem, but these special offers I have to wait and fight for these points. And I'm not the only one. Two of my other friends have the same issues. Oddly enough, I don't have this problem at Superstore. Just at SDM... and it doesn't matter which SDM I shop. Always the same issue. God forbid I should make the same transaction twice (when it's permitted) then you're on the phone with them fighting harder for the second one because it's a completely different transaction.

Second story:

One of those same friends mentioned above has had his account locked since the first week of September (a full month now) due to "suspicious activity" on his account (so a PCO call center agent tells him). After jumping through the hoops of questions (like he's playing Who Wants to be A Millionaire), he verified absolutely every facet to confirm his identity.. so they know it's him. He tells them, flat out... "That transaction was me. I've confirmed it. You can go ahead and unlock the account now." (paraphrased, obviously, I wasnt there.)

They said it had to go to the security team to get unlocked. That was a month ago. He's called twice since then and no dice. Just being told it will be escalated to the security team.

The guy is sitting on over 250,000 points ($250) that he can't use. What's worse, he was one of the individuals given the offer last week for 2x redemption. He could (and would) have spent that $500+ in store, but because his account is locked out... he couldn't use it. He spoke (graciously) to the store manager, who is equally pissed off because that's money in sales that the store didn't get.

He can earn points, just fine, but he can't redeem them. And the agents can't do squat. Not their fault, it's the way the whole cockamamie program is set up.

Scene+ isn't great, but I have to give them credit that it actually works as advertised. AirMiles has their occasional hiccup but quickly resolved. But PC Optimum is by far the most unpredictable and problematic loyalty program I've seen.

@bhlombardy I hear you about the PCO points programme . This past week at SDM I did the redemption and the Dyson Airwrap that I got has 100000 instore bonus points I did not get it . I have an inquiry in so not sure what the out come will be.

As you PCO locking your account I encountered that a few month ago and was very surprised when I went to redeemed at RCSS the cashier said I Ty’s set to only earn., I know before I left home I make sure it was set to earned and redeemed. Came home look at my PCO account and saw everything was good so I made the call to customer service to learn that my account got frozen a few days back I went through the whole question and asked to get it back to active was told 2 business day . I make sure I called after 2 business day still nothing and that very day got an email that it was activated decided to call customer services again to make sure everything was good to learn that it was still Frozen it was a Friday . I know it’s not the customer rep fault but I asked for them to send another email to the team responsible to get it going I called everyday for the next two days and it got activated. I guess your friend have to be bugging them every day until it gets resolve . Heard people saying it can take months. My plan is to try and used up all my points that I have been saving for special redemption.

[2shopmom]

I was on hold for nearly 1 hour yesterday trying to get my account unlocked. it has been frozen for nearly a month. i called/emailed/sent in inquiry. Always - takes 2-5 business days. Not sure what calendar they are using, but 20 business days have passed and I'm was still trying to use my points. Its unlocked now but lets see when this happens again.

To add to the frustration, I was shopping at Zehrs yesterday, the overpriced store of the century. The cashier was asking customers to donate to the local Food Bank. Please do not get this wrong. I always bring items to the food banks and donate cash as well. I do support these efforts.

My beef is this company has the nerve to ask customers to donate to a local food bank when they can just write a cheque and take care of the needs of so many people in one minute. If they did contribute, maybe things would be a bit easier for kids and families for more than just a split second once the food runs out. My suspicion is they collect at the registers, make the donation and then claim it as a write off themselves. I don't know if that is what they do or can do, but its a loophole right?

Another beef is the local NF is selling items that are clearly from other PC stores. There were gummie bears on clearout a few weeks back for 25 cents. The packaging stated a SDM product. WTF?? These items were selling for 25 cents. Probably over 3/4 dollars at SDM. They clearly couldn't sell at SDM so they thought, "lets try NF". they never thought maybe donate these items instead. Terrible.

[HermanH]

My suspicion is they collect at the registers, make the donation and then claim it as a write off themselves. I don't know if that is what they do or can do, but its a loophole right?

I think you are absolutely correct. They most likely amalgamate all cash donations and then write a single cheque, while also claiming that aggregate donation as their personal tax deduction. For a mom & pop operation, most would not object. After all, why not support a small business owner instead of a government that would just waste the tax money. Also, there is no way to pass that tax deduction back to the original contributors. So, it is use it or lose it.

I do wholeheartedly agree that larger stores like RCSS, where they might allow customers to 'round-up their bill' to the next dollar, should make a contribution to cover the tax deduction they receive. I won't hold my breath, from an industry that tries to gouge consumers every last penny.

[GeorgiaK]

Another beef is the local NF is selling items that are clearly from other PC stores. There were gummie bears on clearout a few weeks back for 25 cents. The packaging stated a SDM product. WTF?? These items were selling for 25 cents. Probably over 3/4 dollars at SDM. They clearly couldn't sell at SDM so they thought, "lets try NF". they never thought maybe donate these items instead. Terrible.

As a business owner, I would try to sell the item at any cost in order to recoup SOME of the cost of the item, even if this means selling it at another store or under another banner. I don't blame them trying to sell SDM merchandise at NF.

[2shopmom]

Its more the idea of this company profiting on the backs of those that are trying to just get by with a limited grocery budget. If anyone saw some of the folks in NF, its a sad situation. I agree companies should make a profit but PC stores are now just gouging. I've seen Zehrs staff take clearly moldy cucumbers to use in veggie trays. Produce so highly priced that its unaffordable then had to put it on the reduced shelf. The people power to stock shelves or areas with these items is probably more expensive than just donating. This is what I see and given the current situation in my area with need at Food banks, I think it would be more community minded to donate vs trying to make the last little bit of 25 cents per item but maybe 25 cents means more to some than others. Each business is different and have different goals and profit margins.

As a business owner, I would try to sell the item at any cost in order to recoup SOME of the cost of the item, even if this means selling it at another store or under another banner. I don't blame them trying to sell SDM merchandise at NF.